It’s been an eventful sporting weekend thanks to the NBA and NHL drafts, and there were some interesting tidbits in the gaming world as well.

Halo: Reach Could Use Natal Technology?
According to an interview in The Seattle Times Bungie Studios own Harold Ryan noted that the upcoming Bungie project could be compatible with Project Natal. While Ryan speculated that it certainly could happen, he never said that it would or that any plans to do so were in the works. He merely made the comment while praising the Natal technology. FPS fans should try to talk themselves off the ledge. The idea that Bungie would release a shooter with any kind of motion control seems like folly given their loyal online community.

Xbox 360 Pro Could Vanish?

The rumor mill atTeamxbox.com is hard at work, speculating that the “Pro” SKU could disappear this summer and be replaced by a lower-priced Elite. This seems to me like a win-win for gamers and MS. Gamers get the Elite and it’s 120-GB drive (along with what seems to be sturdier hardware in general) for the same price while Microsoft lowers their number of different SKUs by 1, which should help their manufacturing costs.

Minnesota Drafts Rubio #5, Flynn #6

This is probably more fanfare than even the biggest Jonny Flynn fans would expect surrounding his selection, thanks to the fact that the Timberwolves selected Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio one pick before the Syracuse floor general. This is puzzling because neither are big enough to guard two-guards in the NBA, nor are either of them the kind of outside shooting threat that can stretch a defense. And we’re supposed to think they can play together successfully? Sorry David Kahn. Not buying it. I’m not drinking the Rubio Kool-Aid the way most are, and if they can get a couple of nice pieces for him I’d deal him in a heartbeat. I would expect him to end up elsewhere before he plays an NBA game. Whenever that may be.

Islanders Make The Smart Pick

Kudos to the New York Islanders, who might just have saved their franchise by picking John Tavares with the #1 pick in the NHL Draft. A franchise on the rocks in recent years, the Isles at least saved themselves from the scorn of their remaining faithful. The pick was wildly applauded and rightly so. That’s not a slight on Victor Hedman or Matt Duchene either. Both have the potential to be phenomenal players. I simply believe that Tavares is a cut above the same way that Crosby and Ovechkin have been in recent years. Remember, Evgeni Malkin went #2 the year Ovechkin went #1. A draft isn’t limited to one superstar.